Improvement in fruit-gatherers



Y. W. SMITH. Fruit Gatherer.

Patented 'Sept. 4, 1866- Jill 610607".-

N.FETERS. FHOTO-UTHOGRAPMER. WASHINGTON D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

YOUNGS W. S l\ d1TH, OF BRISTOL, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN FRUlT-GATH ERERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 57,785, dated September 4, 1866.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, YOUNGS W. SMITH, of Bristol, in the county of Ontario and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for Gathering Fruit, Nuts, &c., under trees; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved arrangement applied to a tree; Fig. 2, an elevation of one of the stakesyFig. 3, perspective "iew of one of the loops and cords for adjusting the canvas higher or lower.

Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

My invention consists in the combination of loops and cords of a peculiar arrangement with the canvas and corner-stakes, in such a manner as to adjust the said canvas higher or lower, or incline it at any angle.

As represented in the drawings, A is the canvas, which'is of a diameter to correspond with that of the largest tree, and B B are stakes at the corners for supporting the canvas.

The canvas is of ordinary form, having a slit or seam, a, for passing around the tree, and a discharge-hole, b, at the lowest position, when applied, for the escape of the fruit as it falls upon the canvas.

The stakes are simply upright supports of proper length. When applied to support the canvas they incline inward at the bottom, toward the center, sulficiently to brace against the weight of the canvas, as shown in Fig. 1. They are drawn back in this position, to hold the canvas taut, by means of cords c 0 attached to their tops, extending downward and connecting with small pins d d, simply driven a little distance into the earth. In this manner the canvas can be drawnas straight as desired and held firmly.

Endless cords ff are made to pass loosely through eyes 9 g at the top and bottom of the stakes. To the back side of these cords are attached, at h, loops It 70, which inclose both the body of the stakes and the front side of the loops. Thus it will be seen that the loops slide up and down with the back side of the endless cords, and slide, with the canvas attached, freely over the front side. By means of this arrangement I am enabled to adjust the canvas higher or lower bodily, or at either side or corner, by simply turning the endless cordsf f up or down, and when released said cords are retained in position by the weight of the canvas binding the loops upon the cords in the angular position shown. This adjusting arrangement is very simple, cheap, and efiective, and is of the utmost importance in the practical use of canvas for catching falling fruit. It is necessary to raise or lower the canvas to suit different trees. On inclined ground it is also necessary to elevate one side more than the other. These requirements are met with the greatest facility by this adjusting arrangement.

The method described and shown of supporting the canvas by the inclined stakes with the straightening-cords is also of much practical value, and is much more efi'ective than in any'other arrangement with Which I am acquainted.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The combination of the endless adjustingcordsff and loops It It with the canvas A and bracing stakes B B, operating substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein specified.

YOUNGS W. SMITH.

Witnesses:

R. F. OSG'OOD, J. A. DAVIS. 

